A list is a named set of values, such as SKUs, tags, or store names, that an Automation Rule condition checks against. A list acts as an OR condition, so one rule can cover many values instead of you building a separate rule for each one.
Before You Begin
Lists are created and managed from the Lists panel on the Automation Rules page. Any account type can use lists, including standard accounts, 3PL accounts, and 3PL client accounts.
For how Automation Rules work in general, including triggers, actions, and rule order, see How to Use Automation Rules in ShipHero.
Table of Contents
- How Automation Rule Lists Work
- How to Create an Automation Rule List in ShipHero
- How to Edit the Values in an Automation Rule List
- How to Delete an Automation Rule List in ShipHero
- Automation Rule Lists for 3PL Client Accounts
How Automation Rule Lists Work
A rule trigger normally checks one value at a time. Adding more triggers narrows a rule, because multiple triggers work as AND conditions: the order must match every one of them.
A list does the opposite. Point a trigger at a list and the rule runs when the order matches any single value on that list. For example, a list containing ABC-123 and XYZ-456 triggers the rule when an order contains either SKU.
| To build this logic | Use this |
|---|---|
| Order matches value A AND value B | Multiple triggers on one rule. |
| Order matches value A OR value B | One trigger pointed at a list containing both values. |
Use a list whenever you would otherwise create several near-identical rules that differ only by the value they check. Keeping those values in one list means you update the list instead of editing every rule.
How to Create an Automation Rule List in ShipHero
- Go to Orders > Automation Rules.
- Open the Lists panel in the right sidebar.
- Select the option to create a list.
- Enter a name for the list.
- Enter the values for the list, separated by commas.
- Select Save. The new list appears in the Lists panel and becomes available to select in your rule conditions.
Pro-Tip
Name lists after what they represent rather than what one rule does with them, for example Oversized SKUs instead of Freight rule SKUs. A single list can be used by several rules, and a name tied to one rule stops making sense as soon as you reuse it.
How to Edit the Values in an Automation Rule List
Adding and removing values happen in two different places on the same screen. You can do both before saving.
- Go to Orders > Automation Rules and open the Lists panel.
- Open the list you want to change.
- To add values, enter them in the designated field, separated by commas. This is the same format used when creating the list.
- To remove values, select the checkbox next to each value you want to delete from the list.
- Select Save to apply your changes.
Changes to a list take effect for every rule that uses it. Because Automation Rules run at order import, updated list values apply to new orders only and do not change orders already in ShipHero.
How to Delete an Automation Rule List in ShipHero
- Go to Orders > Automation Rules and open the Lists panel.
- Select one or more lists.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Important
Deleting a list also removes the rule conditions that use it. A rule can change behavior or stop matching orders entirely once its list condition is gone. Read the confirmation message closely, and check which rules use a list before you delete it.
To stop using a list without affecting your rules, edit the rule and point the trigger at a different value instead of deleting the list.
Automation Rule Lists for 3PL Client Accounts
Note for 3PLs: This section applies only to 3PL accounts managing client Automation Rules. For the full 3PL experience, see Overview: Managing Automation Rules as a 3PL in ShipHero.
Every list is owned by a single client account, and the Lists panel shows which client owns each one. The client filter on the Automation Rules page filters the Lists panel along with the rule list.
From a 3PL account you can create a list for one client or for several clients at once. When you select several clients, ShipHero creates a separate list in each of those client accounts. Each copy is owned by its client and is edited independently afterward, so updating one client's list does not update the others.
| Action | 3PL behavior |
|---|---|
| Create a list | Select one client or several. A separate client-owned list is created for each selected client. |
| Edit list values | Applies to that one client's list only. Repeat for each client that needs the change. |
| Delete lists | Select one or more visible lists and confirm. Filter by client first to avoid deleting another client's list. |
| Duplicate a rule that uses a list | Allowed inside the same client account. Blocked when copying to a different client, because list contents belong to the source client. |
Client-owned lists cannot be carried into another client account through rule duplication. To use the same list in another client, create the list in that client account and rebuild the rule condition there. See How to Duplicate Automation Rules in ShipHero.